2006 Minerals Yearbook NEVADA

U.S. Department of the Interior May 2009 U.S. Geological Survey NEVADA

Opal

Gem

HUMBOLDT Au, Ag

Au, Ag SG Au, Ag Ba ELKO SG Au, Ag Elko ! CS Au, Ag Au, Ag SG Lime WASHOE Ba SG Gyp Au, Ag Au, Ag PERSHING Au, Ag

Au, Ag Dia Au, Ag Ba Per Per Au, Ag Au, Ag

Bent Zeo LANDER EUREKA Au, Ag

SG

Reno ! Cem Dia CHURCHILL WHITE PINE STOREY Au, Ag SG W SG CS Gyp 1 2 Cu Mo LYON SG CARSON CITY ^Carson City Salt

DOUGLAS Au, Ag SG SG MgCp

Au, Ag

MINERAL LEGEND NYE County boundary ^ Capital Dia ! City ESMERALDA Gem Crushed stone/sand and Au, Ag 1 LINCOLN gravel district boundary Bent Per MINERAL SYMBOLS Per (Major producing areas) Ag Silver Li Lithium carbonate Au Gold Lime Lime plant

B Borate plant MgCp Magnesium compounds Bent Ba Barite Mn Manganese plant SG CS SG Bent Bentonite Mo Molybdenum Ful B CLARK IS Cem Cement plant Opal Precious opal Bent Zeo CS Crushed stone Per Perlite Gyp LimeCS Gyp Cu Copper Per Perlite plant SG ! Las Vegas SG SG Dia Diatomite Salt Salt Mn Ti Lime Ful Fuller's earth SG Construction sand and gravel SG

Gem Gemstones Ti Titanium metal plant CS Gyp Gypsum W Tungsten metal plant

Gyp Gypsum plant Zeo Zeolites 025 50 100 Kilometers IS Industrial sand Concentration of mineral Ka Kaolin operations Albers equal area projection

Source: Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology/ U.S. Geological Survey (2006). THE MINERAL INDUSTRY OF NEVADA

This chapter has been prepared under a Memorandum of Understanding between the U.S. Geological Survey and the Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology for collecting information on all nonfuel minerals.

In 2006, Nevada’s nonfuel raw mineral production1 was to produce magnesite and lithium carbonate minerals (minerals valued at $5.14 billion, based upon annual U.S. Geological listed in descending order of value) and remained fi rst of two Survey (USGS) data. This was an increase of $1.25 billion, a barite-producing States, second in silver and diatomite, third in 32% rise from that of 2005, following a $420 million, or 12%, gypsum, fourth in copper, and sixth in lime. Nevada was sixth increase from 2004 to 2005. This again set an alltime high for in the production of pumice and pumicite with the resumption the State, principally being the result of increases in the price of mining since last reported production of 1980. The State of gold, a substantial increase in the annual average price of decreased to 9th from 6th in the production of construction sand copper, and a signifi cant increase in the annual average price of and gravel, to 9th from 7th in gemstones (gemstones ranking silver. The State rose in rank back to second from third in the based upon value), and was the producer of signifi cant quantities Nation in total nonfuel mineral production value in 2006, which of crushed stone and industrial sand and gravel. Mercury was followed rankings of second 1994–97 and 1999–2004 and fi rst produced as a byproduct of gold-silver processing at several in 1992–93 and 1998. Nevada accounted for more than 7.7% of mines, but no data were reported to the USGS. Mercury has not the U.S. total nonfuel value in 2006. been mined domestically as a primary mineral commodity since Nevada, which has led the Nation in gold production since the closure of the McDermitt Mine in 1992 (Brooks and Matos, 1981, provided 82% of the Nation’s gold in 2006. In 2006, 2005). gold accounted for 78% of the State’s total nonfuel raw mineral The following narrative information was provided by the production value, followed by copper (data withheld—company Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology2 (NBMG). Production proprietary data), construction sand and gravel with nearly data in the text that follows are those reported by the NBMG as 4.5%, and silver, lime, and crushed stone with somewhat less measured by mine shipments, sales, or marketable production than 2% each. For the fourth consecutive year, Nevada ranked (including consumption by producers) and were compiled by the second in silver production (fi rst from 1987-2001) accounting Nevada Commission on Mineral Resources Division of Minerals for more about 21.5% of the silver produced from U.S. mines, (NDM) and the Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology, based down from 22% in 2005, 24% in 2004, 26% in 2003, and 30% upon the surveys and canvasses of and estimates made by those in 2002. State agencies, including information gathered from company In 2006, while the production of gold dropped slightly, annual reports (Price and Meeuwig, 2007, p. 3). The NBMG down about 2.5%, its total value rose by 32%, or up by nearly data are reported by that agency to be nonproprietary and may $1 billion. A relatively small increase in copper production differ from some USGS production fi gures as reported to and at the Quadra Mining Ltd.’s Robinson Mine, just west of Ely, estimated by the USGS. White Pine County, resulted in a near doubling of its 2005 total value, owing to the commodity’s increase in unit value. Industry Overview and Trends Although silver production in the State decreased by nearly 12%, nevertheless, total value rose by $26 million, or up by The value of mineral production in Nevada reached an alltime 40%. A modest increase in crushed stone production led to a high in 2006, primarily as a result of increases in the price of nearly $20 million increase in its value. Smaller yet signifi cant gold and most all other commodities. Although production increases of somewhat more than $5 million each took place in of gold continued to decrease from its high of nearly 277,000 the nonfuel mineral commodities of barite, diatomite, fuller’s kilograms (kg) (8.9 million troy ounces) in 1998 to 196,000 kg earth clay, gypsum (crude), molybdenum concentrates, and (6.3 million troy ounces) in 2006, nonetheless, 2006 represented portland cement. The largest decreases in value took place in the 18th consecutive year in which production was in excess construction sand and gravel, down by $6 million, and lime, of 156,000 kg (5 million troy ounces). Production of gold was down by about $3 million. Although not signifi cantly affecting derived from 22 major mining operations. The Carlin trend in the State’s overall total nonfuel mineral value, the value of northeastern Nevada accounted for 51% of the total production. gemstone production was down about 40% (table 1). Nine additional mining operations, not on the Carlin trend, In 2006, while Nevada continued to lead the Nation in the each produced more than 3,100 kg (100,000 troy ounces) of quantity of gold produced, it also continued to be the only State gold. Most of this gold was sold on the international market for artistic items, bullion, and jewelry. The conductive and 1The terms “nonfuel mineral production” and related “values” encompass noncorrosive qualities also were applied in computers, other variations in meaning, depending upon the mineral products. Production may electronics, and dental-related items. be measured by mine shipments, mineral commodity sales, or marketable production (including consumption by producers) as is applicable to the individual mineral commodity. 2Jonathan G. Price, Director and State Geologist, Richard O. Meeuwig, Editor All 2006 USGS mineral production data published in this chapter are those and Webmaster, Stephen B. Castor, Research Geologist, and John L. Muntean, available as of March 2008. All USGS Mineral Industry Surveys and USGS Research Economic Geologist, coauthored the text of the State mineral industry Minerals Yearbook chapters—mineral commodity, State, and country—can be information provided by the Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology. retrieved over the Internet at URL http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals.

NEVADA—2006 30.1 Through 2006, cumulative gold production in Nevada Exploration Activities, Discoveries, and Mine Development (beginning with the Comstock lode in 1859) was about 5,280 Activities metric tons (t) (170 million troy ounces). Nearly 86% of this total was produced after the Carlin Mine began production in According to a survey of exploration activities by the Nevada 1965, of which 83% was produced in the period from 1981 to Division of Minerals, exploration activity has been steadily the present. During this period, 45% of the gold was produced increasing since 2001, when companies reported $51.2 million in the decade from 1997 to 2006. Total gold production in the in expenditures in Nevada (Driesner and Coyner, 2007b). The 28 United States, primarily since 1835, has been estimated to be companies responding to the survey reported spending $164.9 about 16,200 t (521 million troy ounces, nearly 11% of total million on exploration in Nevada in 2006, substantially higher world gold production) with total Nevada production nearly 3% than the $121.3 million reported in 2005 or the $79.7 million of total world production. The Carlin trend alone has accounted reported in 2004, and well above the level of $138.8 million in for 1.3% of total world production of gold. 1995. The State’s industrial minerals mining industry served to appreciably support the State’s economic growth. Aggregate Industrial Minerals production reached an alltime high in 2006 as a result of Nevada’s expanding population and the need for construction Developments in the industrial minerals sector continued materials for airports, business structures, highways, homes, in 2006. Notable exploration and mine staking activities took resort hotels, roads, and schools. Population growth was place in several commodities including barite, cement, clays, particularly strong in the Las Vegas metropolitan area (Clark diatomite, gypsum, sand and gravel, stone (crushed), stone County), where the infl ux of 9 to 10 new residents per hour (dimension), and vermiculite (Castor, 2007, p. 63). resulted in approximately one hectare per hour of land Barite.—After a sharp decline in barite mining in the 1980s development for businesses, homes, and roads (Ronald Lynn, and continuing weak sales of barite, exploration for barite Clark County building offi cial, oral commun., December, 2006). was resumed in 2006. Excalibar Minerals Inc. (a division of New cement plants were planned for both the greater Las Vegas Newpark Resources Inc.) with barite processing plants in and Reno markets. Demand for construction raw materials was Louisiana and Texas, staked nine claims near the southend of the likely to remain strong as a result of the expected continuation Independence Mountains in Elko County. The claims are in the of the State’s growth in population. Gypsum production declined vicinity of the Heavy Spar barite prospect, which was explored in 2006, relative to 2005, in part because of the closure of the by Eisenman Chemical Co. in the 1970s, and are near the Blue Diamond Mine on the perimeter of the Las Vegas Valley. Maggie Creek portion of the Carlin gold trend. Excalibar had A trend occurring in the Las Vegas area, as well as staked 30 claims in another Elko County barite district in 2005. nationwide, that combines post-mining use of aggregate quarries Spirit Minerals, LP fi led an application for a reclamation permit with its use in land development operations continued during to explore the Big Ledge Mine area in the Snake Mountains the year. The eventual use of quarries for landfi ll operations, of Elko County, an area that was explored by Chromalloy recreation sites, and suburban development has become vital American Corp. in the late 1970s and later mined by Circle A in areas where urban expansion encroaches on the mineral Construction Inc. in the 1990s. Spirit Minerals planned to begin resources. milling 68,000 t of stockpiled ore mined in the 1980s by Old Consolidation of Nevada’s metal mining industry continued Soldier Minerals from another property in the area, and also in 2006. Barrick Gold Corp. completed its acquisition of Placer staked 38 mill site claims on the east side of the Snake Range. Dome Inc. that included Placer’s interests in the Bald Mountain, Heemskirk Canada Ltd., which operates a barite processing Cortez, and Turquoise Ridge Mines. In addition, Goldcorp Inc. plant in Alberta, Canada, using barite produced in Nevada, acquired Glamis Gold Ltd., the operator of the Marigold Mine. leased the Monitor barite property in the Northumberland Also, Midway Gold Corp. announced plans to acquire Pan- District of Nye County. Milchem Inc. had produced barite from Nevada Gold Corp. the Monitor Mine in the late 1970s. Cement.—Nevada Cement Co., Fernley, Lyon County (part Employment of Eagle Materials Inc., Dallas, Texas) staked claims in several areas near its Fernley cement plant. Twenty-fi ve claims were The mining industry directly employed 11,516 people in staked on limestone deposits along the southwest edge of the 2006. The industry also was responsible for another 52,000 Trinity Range in Pershing County, about 64 kilometers (km) jobs related to providing the goods and services needed northeast of the cement plant. A similar group of seven claims by the industry and its employees (Driesner and Coyner, was staked in the Hot Creek Range, Churchill County, about 2007a). Productivity of Nevada mining operations remained 32 km northeast of the plant. A third group of four claims also exceptionally high. Measured simply by the value of the was staked about 32 km south of Fallon, Churchill County. In commodities produced divided by the number of employees, addition, Nevada Cement prepared plans during the year for each employee in the nonfuel mineral industry produced, on operation of a limestone quarry on claims staked in the early average, approximately $426,000 in mined products in 2006, an 1990s near Rye Patch Reservoir in Pershing County, about alltime high fi gure. 113 km northeast of the Fernley plant. A plan of operations

30.2 U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY MINERALS YEARBOOK—2006 for this mine was to be submitted to the U.S. Bureau of Land McKinney Tanks zeolite occurrence, and may have been staked Management (BLM) in early 2007. It was not disclosed to for that commodity instead of stone. what extent the limestone properties staked in 2006 would be Vermiculite.—In 2006, Rio Tinto Industrial Minerals integrated with this plan. exercised an option to acquire the IBI Corp. interest in Clay.—The Moltan Company staked nine placer claims over vermiculite deposits near Mica Peak, Clark County. Under the the San Emidio clay deposit near Empire in Washoe County in agreement, Rio Tinto may acquire IBI’s interest until 2008 for 2006. $1.25 million and is required to spend $250,000 on exploration Diatomite.—The Moltan Company also fi led a block of about and property development during the option period. The 100 claims, mostly placer claims, over diatomite in the Desert vermiculite occurs in altered Precambrian mafi c and ultramafi c Peak area, Churchill County, about 40 km northeast of Fernley. rock in three claim blocks that include claims originally staked The company also staked 18 claims over the Black Butte in 1993 and 1994. However, the presence of the vermiculite diatomite deposit near Hazen. EP Minerals LLC fi led 35 placer deposits near Mica Peak has been known since the 1930s. A mill claims over the Trinity diatomite deposit about 48 km northeast was constructed there in the 1940s. of Fernley in Churchill County in 2006. Zeolites.—The Moltan Company fi led 15 lode claims in 2006 Gypsum.—The site of the former Bpb Gypsum Inc. Blue near a zeolite deposit in Churchill County about 56 km northeast Diamond Mine was slated to become a housing development, of Fernley. In addition, Moltan staked 12 lode claims near the as a result of its location in the vicinity of metropolitan growth Ash Meadows Zeolite LLC mill in Nye County. around the Las Vegas area. The Blue Diamond area had been the site of gypsum mining since 1925. The adjacent Blue Diamond Metals wallboard plant continued production in 2006, using gypsum imported from northern Arizona. During the year, Bpb also fi led Metals exploration in Nevada continued in 2006 at an even fi ve mill site claims adjacent to the wallboard plant. greater pace than in 2005. County recorders registered 180,568 Ready Mix Inc., a Las Vegas construction material supplier, fi lings of mining claims in 2006, an 8.2% increase compared staked eight placer claims in the area of the White Star gypsum with that of 2005. These included fi ling new claims as well as prospect near Logandale, Clark County. It was unclear if maintaining existing claims. The BLM recorded the fi ling of gypsum was the commodity sought since decorative sandstone 26,512 new claims in 2006. The predominant claiming areas was known to be mined in the area. were in the Humboldt Range, the Union Pass region of the Sand and Gravel and Stone, Crushed.—Objections to Sulphur Springs Range, and the general vicinity surrounding certain mining claims acquired by Rinker Materials Inc. in 2001 the inactive Rosebud and Hycroft Mines north of Lovelock. continued in 2006. Rinker had acquired claims on carbonate Exploration drilling was carried out at 117 mining projects rock in the Sloan area south of Las Vegas, but in 2005, the BLM during the year. The main exploration activity continued to be challenged these claims in Federal court. In 2006, the case was directed toward gold, although an increasing number of projects still under consideration, although a fi nal ruling by the court was focused on copper, molybdenum, silver, and tungsten. For not expected to be imminent. example, 12 of the 117 projects drilled in 2006 targeted metals Nevada Aggregate Holdings continued to assemble a large other than gold compared with that of 2005, when only 5 of 110 block of claims in an area mostly underlain by carbonate rock projects were drilled for metals other than gold. about 24 km northeast of Las Vegas. In 2006, the company Gold.—Most of the exploration drilling for gold, in terms recorded more than 400 one-member placer claims in this area, of footage, continued to be conducted by major or midtier and by yearend had more than 15 sections of land under claim. companies3 in and near their active mines (Muntean, 2007, These claims are south of the Apex Landfi ll, which, in addition p. 14). As in 2005, most new mine reserves were the result of to accepting the Las Vegas metropolitan area’s refuse, is the drilling that converted resources to reserves. Barrick Gold Corp. site of aggregate production for the Las Vegas metropolitan carried out a major drilling program in and near its Goldstrike area. Las Vegas Paving Corp. staked a small number of eight- Mine, both on the surface and underground. Barrick continued member placer claims to the north of the landfi ll. Frehner Inc. to drill at its South Arturo discovery northwest of Goldstrike added 12 millsite claims to its patented claim block in the Sloan on the Dee property at the northern end of the Carlin trend. A area south of Las Vegas, where it produces crushed carbonate 40% interest in the Dee property is held by Goldcorp Inc. In aggregate. Companies that held claims on carbonate rock or addition to its drilling activities, Barrick initiated prestripping other aggregate material in the Las Vegas area in 2006 include of the East Archimedes deposit where mining was scheduled to Diamond Generating Corp. and Sierra Ready Mix in the Ivanpah begin in 2007. With the acquisition of Placer Dome Inc., Barrick area, Frehner Inc. in the Sloan area, and Las Vegas Paving in the also completed major drilling programs at the Bald Mountain Dry Lake area. Stone, Dimension.—Two small claim groups were staked 3As determined by the NBMG, the classifi cation of companies into major, for the probable purpose of dimension stone mining. State midtier, or junior in this section of the report is arbitrarily based on gold production and market capitalization. The loose criteria were as follows: 1) Stone Corp., a Salt Lake City wholesale construction materials major companies produce greater than 1 million troy ounces of gold worldwide, supplier, staked three lode claims in Lincoln County about and have market capitalization of more than $3 billion, 2) midtier companies 48 km southeast of Caliente. Nevada Rock LLC, Carson produce between 50,000 and 1 million troy ounces of gold and have market City, staked seven claims in Nye County about 32 km east of capitalization less than $3 billion but more than $500 million, and 3) junior companies produce less than 50,000 troy ounces of gold and have market Tonopah. The Nevada Rock claims are in the vicinity of the capitalization less than $500 million.

NEVADA—2006 30.3 Mine and the Cortez Joint Venture in which Kennecott Minerals (Gold Summit Corp.), New Pass (Bonaventure Enterprises Co. has a 40% interest. The Cortez Joint Venture consists of Inc.), Pinson (Atna Resources), and Reward (Canyon Resources the Cortez Mine and the Cortez Hills development project. Corp). Although no new discoveries were announced at the Cortez Junior companies also conducted drilling at sites without Mine, Barrick continued to expand the Cortez Hills deposit, known historical resources. Midway Gold Corp. continued to especially the deep, high-grade lower zone. Barrick planned to drill a new vein discovered in 2005 at its Midway project and begin production at Cortez Hills in 2009, which was expected announced a resource estimate for its Spring Valley project to help alleviate declining production from Barrick’s nearby (Midway Gold Corp., 2006). The diatreme-hosted Spring Pipeline Mine. Major drill programs also were carried out by Valley deposit, which sparked a staking rush in the Humboldt Newmont Mining Corp. at its Leeville, Gold Quarry, Genesis, Range, represents a potentially new type of exploration target Carlin, Pete, Phoenix, Twin Creeks, and Midas gold deposits. in Nevada. In addition, joint-venture partners (NewWest and In addition, Newmont continued the permitting process for Agnico-Eagle Mines Ltd.) continued to drill AuEx’s Pequop its Emigrant deposit. Other active mines with major drill properties (Long Canyon and Pequop West) near Wells in programs in 2006 included Turquoise Ridge (75% Barrick, 25% northeast Nevada. A major implication of the recent discoveries Newmont), Marigold (67% Goldcorp, 33% Barrick), Jerritt at the Pequop properties is that the sedimentary rock-hosted Canyon (Queenstake Resources Inc.), and Robinson (Quadra mineralization is distant from any of the known Carlin-type gold Mining Ltd.). deposits and would likely attract companies to this relatively Substantial drill programs also were carried out by major or under-explored area of Nevada. midtier companies outside their active mine areas. Newmont Some junior companies also planned to begin mine production continued to evaluate Northumberland, and by yearend 2006, at sites containing small quantities of gold resource. Royal had spent about $6 million toward the $25 million it was Standard Minerals Inc. completed the permitting process for its obligated to spend by 2010. The total expenditure would Gold Wedge underground deposit in the Manhattan District and earn Newmont a 60% interest from its joint-venture partner conducted preliminary mining tests during the year. Firstgold NewWest Gold Corp. Centerra Gold Inc. continued to drill Corp. began the permitting process to reopen the Relief Canyon its REN project, a joint venture with Barrick, in the northern gold mine near Lovelock, which closed in the early 1990s. Carlin trend. Hecla Mining Co., in a joint venture with Great Silver.—Drilling by Silver Quest Resources Ltd. (joint Basin Gold Ltd., completed a total of 2,150 meters (m) of venture with Bullion River Gold Corp.) at its Corcoran Canyon underground development and about 17,000 m of drilling at the project east of Round Mountain, Nye County, revealed a new Hollister Mine in the Ivanhoe District. Drill results established resource zone containing up to 795 grams per metric ton (g/t) thickness and continuity of high grades along veins, but Hecla of silver over a 2.2 m-thick intercept. Silver Quest initiated a decided to discontinue its participation in the joint venture. program of permitting in preparation for a larger drill program Great Basin planned to complete a feasibility study, and then directed at the new discovery as well as the area of known make a decision in 2007 as to whether the Hollister Mine should silver occurrence. The known resource estimate of 1.61 million be placed into production. Newcrest Mining Ltd. completed a metric tons (Mt) grading 175 g/t silver and 0.86 g/t of gold was signifi cant drill program at its Gabbs project, which included determined by Echo Bay Exploration in 1988 (Silver Quest the Sullivan Mine just north of the Paradise Peak that was Resources Ltd., 2007). last operated in the early 1900s. U.S. Gold Corporation began Piedmont Mining Co., in a joint venture with AuEx Ventures its drill program at Tonkin Springs, completing 17,000 m of Inc., completed approximately 1,100 m of core drilling at drilling, which primarily served to test for extensions of known the old Trinity Silver Mine in Pershing County. The drilling deposits. was designed to confi rm silver mineralization encountered Much of the drilling for gold by junior companies took place through earlier drilling in the 1980s, as well as to provide around known, unmined deposits or inactive mines, commonly geological information on the nature of faults controlling the with outdated resource estimates. In addition to expanding a mineralization. Assay results revealed four of the 10 new core given resource beyond its margins, an important objective of holes contained 1.5- to 3-m-thick intercepts of about 340 g/t this drilling was to upgrade the resource estimate with infi ll silver with a high value of 890 g/t silver. These high grade zones and confi rmation drilling in order to produce a new resource were commonly enclosed within or accompanied by broader estimate that was compliant with current U.S. Securities and zones of lower grade mineralization grading approximately 34 Exchange Commission regulations. Several major drill programs g/t silver (AuEx Ventures Inc., 2006). were conducted at sites including Borealis (Gryphon Gold Fury Explorations Ltd. conducted about 3,000 m of drilling Corp.), Fire Creek (Klondex Mines Ltd.), Jessup and Pan (Pan- at the Taylor Mine near Ely in White Pine County. Results Nevada Gold Corp.), Robertson (Coral Gold Corp.), Sandman reportedly demonstrated continuity within the high-grade fault (NewWest), and Toiyabe (Golden Oasis Gold Corp.). At Fire zone. The drilling delineated 500 m of strike length on the fault Creek, Klondex continued to drill at depths below the historical zone, with widths of about 3 m of silver mineralization grading resource, and released a new mineral resource estimate of about up to 150 g/t silver (Fury Explorations Ltd., 2006). 31,000 kg (one million troy ounces of gold) (Klondex Mines General Metals Corporation completed the fi rst stage of Ltd., 2006). In addition, new resource estimates were released drilling on the tailings at its Independence Mine project, Battle during the year for Goldfi eld (Metallic Ventures Gold, Inc.), Mountain District, Lander County. The Independence claims, Lookout Mountain (Stacatto Gold Resources Ltd.), Monte Cristo covering about 100 hectares, are completely surrounded by

30.4 U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY MINERALS YEARBOOK—2006 Newmont Mining’s Phoenix Mine, but with legal access. Drill Idaho General also expanded its land position by staking 651 results from the tailings and an estimated 59,000 t of stockpiled claims around Mount Hope in 2006. In addition, it acquired ore suggested that the combined tailings and stockpiled ore the Hall deposit north of Tonopah and began to assess whether contained more than 124 kg (4,000 troy ounces) of gold and production of the remaining resources at Hall was economically nearly 7,800 kg (250,000 troy ounces) of silver that were feasible. Idaho General expanded its land position by staking potentially available for recovery by using heap-leaching 417 claims around Hall in 2006 (Idaho General Mines, Inc., techniques (General Metals Corporation, 2006). 2007). Other Metals.—Canyon Copper Corp.’s (formerly Aberdene After nearly 20 years of inactivity, interest in the production Mines) New York Canyon project in the Gabbs Valley of tungsten was resumed in the State. Galway Resources began Range, Mineral County, remained the most signifi cant copper an evaluation of the Indian Springs tungsten skarn deposit north exploration project in 2006. Drilling at the copper oxide skarn of Wells, Elko County. Indian Springs had undergone extensive deposit confi rmed and expanded the known extent of the copper exploration drilling and metallurgical testing during the period oxide mineralization, which is exposed at the surface and has 1968 through 1986. The deposit contains both high-recovery, been tested to depths up to 120 m. A resource estimate for New scheelite-bearing mineralization and lower-recovery, non- York Canyon was expected to be released in 2007. Canyon scheelite, iron-oxide-bearing tungsten mineralization. In 2006, Copper staked more than 900 new claims in 2006, including Galway conducted a 2,100-m drilling program at Indian Springs much of the pediment on the west side of the Gabbs Valley that served to verify earlier ore grade intercepts and extend the Range. known mineralization. At Pumpkin Hollow, Lyon County, Nevada Copper Corp. Golden Predator Mines, Inc. acquired the Springer Tungsten drilled several core holes confi rming high-grade copper Mining and Milling Complex near Imlay from General Electric mineralization and continuity in the Northwest deposit. Copper Company in November 2006. The Springer Mine and mill had mineralization averaging up to 1% was observed over an opened in early 1982 at a cost of $55 million through a joint intercept thickness of 213 m. venture between General Electric and Utah International, but Nevada Pacifi c Gold Ltd. conducted 3,400 m of exploration was closed in October 1982 as a result of declining tungsten drilling at its Timber Creek project in Lander County, south of prices. The facilities had remained on care-and-maintenance the Buffalo Valley Mine. The drill program was designed to test status since that time. Although acquisition of Springer allows geophysical and structural areas that extend away from the front Golden Predator the opportunity to potentially produce tungsten, of the mountain range and onto the pediment. Mineralization a planned addition of a separate gold processing circuit and of up to 0.09% copper and 0.21% zinc was observed over utilization of existing water rights and tailings infrastructure an intercept thickness of 30 m. The mineralization lies on could make the Springer complex the only independent the southeast edge of what appears to be an area of zoned operating gold mill in northern Nevada. base-metal mineralization related to the copper-molybdenum Gold Canyon Resources, Inc. continued to explore for gallium porphyry exposed in trenching about 900 m north of the area near the historic Cordero mercury mine near McDermitt, drilled. Humbolt County. Gold Canyon completed a 4,700-m drilling Pacifi c Magnesium Corp. Ltd. drilled core holes totaling program and released an inferred resource for the Cordero 1,700 m near the Ann Mason resource in the Yerington project of 6.45 Mt grading 52.3 g/t gallium (Gold Canyon District, Lyon County. Continuity of copper mineralization was Resources, Inc., 2006). demonstrated over a 480-m intercept containing 0.5% copper. Small quantities of molybdenum and silver also were detected Commodity Review in the mineralization. Results of drilling southwest of the known Ann Mason deposit revealed a 3-m intercept of 0.6% copper Industrial Minerals within a 9-m intercept of 0.37% copper. Boxxer Gold Corp. explored the iron deposits in the Buena Barite.—Three major operations in Lander and Elko Counties Vista hills, Pershing County, for copper and gold mineralization. combined to produce more than 95% of the barite mined in the The downdip extension of a copper-bearing magnetite United States. M-I SWACO, which is jointly owned by Smith replacement body assayed 0.75% copper over a 1-m width at a International Inc. and Schlumberger Ltd., was the leading depth of 94 to 103 m. Nevada barite producer in 2006. Production of crude and Quadra Mining Ltd. completed the molybdenum recovery ground barite was derived from the company’s Greystone Mine circuit at its Robinson copper-molybdenum mine in White and Battle Mountain processing plant, both in Lander County. Pine County and began producing molybdenum, in addition M-I SWACO introduced a new grade of barite with lower to copper, gold, and silver. Quadra also continued exploration specifi c gravity of 4.1 (compared with the American Petroleum efforts to identify additional copper and molybdenum resources Institute specifi c gravity specifi cation of 4.2) following cost at Robinson (Quadra Mining Ltd., 2006). and performance analyses. The specifi c gravity adjustment was Idaho General Mines, Inc. continued the permitting process intended to extend barite reserves in Nevada. Baroid Drilling for the Mount Hope porphyry molybdenum deposit north Fluids Inc. (a subsidiary of Halliburton Co.) was the second of Eureka. The company submitted a plan of operations to leading producer in Nevada. The company mined barite from the BLM and initiated various baseline studies necessary to the Rossi Mine in Elko County, which was then processed at complete an environmental impact statement for Mount Hope. Baroid’s Dunphy Mill in Eureka County. Baker Hughes INTEQ,

NEVADA—2006 30.5 the third leading producer, shipped barite from its Argenta Pershing County, and the New Discovery Mine near Beatty. The operation near Battle Mountain in Lander County. Most of American Colloid Co. mines white bentonite from its Nassau the barite sold domestically is used as a weighting agent in property in Coal Canyon in Pershing County for use in specialty oil and gas well drilling fl uids. On the basis of data supplied clay products. Information was not available on whether the by Schlumberger Ltd., the total oil and gas drill rig count for company shipped clay from Nevada in 2006. Canada and the United States declined by about 2% in 2006, Diatomite.—The United States is the leading producer of compared with a drill rig count increase of 12% in 2005. diatomite worldwide. Nevada accounts for more than 30% Boron.—American Borate Co. processed borate minerals of domestic diatomite production. About two-thirds of the at the Lathrop Wells mill in Nye County. Until 2005, the feed diatomite produced in Nevada is used in fi ltration systems, and was colemanite mined from the Billie Mine in Death Valley, the remainder is mainly used in absorbents, fi llers, and cement. CA. In 2006, however, the feed for the Lathrop Wells mill was Emerging small-scale uses include pharmaceutical processing imported. The mill capacity is about 20,000 metric tons per year and nontoxic insecticides. (t/yr) boron trioxide basis. EP Minerals LLC, the second leading diatomite producer in Cement.—Nevada Cement Co., Fernley, Lyon County, was the world, produced most of Nevada’s diatomite. EP Minerals’ the sole producer of cement in the State during the year. Nevada Colado operation in Pershing County produced fi ltration Cement is a wholly subsidiary of Eagle Materials Inc., Dallas, materials at its Lovelock plant from diatomite mined about TX. The cement is manufactured from Tertiary lacustrine 24 km to the northwest. Filler and absorbent materials were limestone mined a few miles south of Fernley, and from other produced at its Clark plant from diatomite mined in Storey raw materials acquired from locations in northern Nevada. County about 32 km east of Reno, and insulation materials were Ash Grove Cement Co., a Kansas corporation, planned to produced from diatomite mined near Hazen in Lyon County. EP begin construction of a major cement plant in late 2007. The Minerals’ former parent company, Eagle-Picher Holdings, fi led plant, under consideration since 2004, is to be located northeast to reorganize under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code in of Las Vegas on the Moapa Indian Reservation. Annual April 2005. In 2006, the company emerged from restructuring production capacity of the plant is expected to be about 1.4 Mt. under the name Eagle Picher Incorporated. Limestone feed for the plant is to be acquired from a quarry The Celite Corp. operated a mine at Hazen and a plant in on the reservation. Although the plant site is on an Indian Fernley that produced diatomite for use as fi llers. Celite is a reservation, which is not subject to as many State and Federal subsidiary of World Minerals Inc., the world’s leading diatomite laws as other lands, Ash Grove will adhere to environmental producer, and a subsidiary of Imerys, a large French industrial regulations required by the U.S. Environmental Protection minerals company. The Moltan Company shipped absorbent Agency (EPA), and has applied for an air quality permit. The products, cat litter, and soil conditioner under several labels EPA has determined that the use of proposed control devices from a mine and plant complex in Churchill County about 32 and emission limits for the plant meet the requirements of km northeast of Fernley. Grefco Minerals’ relatively small 40 CFR 52.21 (prevention of signifi cant deterioration of air diatomite operation near the Esmeralda/Mineral County line quality) and that the proposed plant project will not violate any continued to produce diatomite in 2006. American Diatomite of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards. It is anticipated Inc. holds claims in Esmeralda County near the Shu Fly that production of cement from the new plant will assist in diatomite deposit about 16 km north of Coaldale. signifi cantly reducing cement shortages that have affected Las Gemstones.—Precious opal is produced from several mines Vegas concrete suppliers and construction fi rms periodically in in the Virgin Valley area of northern Humboldt County. The best the 1990s and as recently as 2005. known are the Bonanza, Hidden Valley, Rainbow Ridge, and Clay.—IMV Nevada (owned by Mud Camp Mining Royal Peacock Mines. The Rainbow Ridge and Royal Peacock Company, LLC) produced bentonite, saponite, and sepiolite Mines reported production in 2006 to the Nevada Division of from deposits in lacustrine sediments in the Ash Meadows- Minerals. Virgin Valley is a well-known source of gemstones Amargosa Flat area of Nye County. The clay occurs in shallow, in North America, but much of the opal comes from pay-to-dig fl at-lying deposits in Pliocene lacustrine rocks. The clay is operations and is unreported. In addition, Nevada is estimated processed at a plant in Amargosa Valley, after which the clay to have produced more than $30 million worth of turquoise, products are exported worldwide. The saponite and sepiolite mostly during the fi rst half of the 20th century when as much as deposits have unusual geology, in that they are considered to 4,500 kg was produced in a single year. In 2006, less than 23 kg have originated in a Pliocene playa with an area of at least 57 of turquoise was shipped from the Blue Ridge Mine, a family- square kilometers (km2). The sepiolite, which yields most of the owned property in the Bullion District of Lander County. profi ts for the company, occurs in an almost continuous bed with Gypsum.—Nevada’s gypsum production declined for the an average thickness of about 2 m. third consecutive year. This decline was mainly the result of Two companies mine and ship relatively minor amounts of cessation of mining in 2004 at the Bpb Gypsum, Inc. Blue Nevada clay from several sites for use in high-value specialty Diamond’s operation south of Las Vegas was one of the State’s products. At its White Caps Mill near Beatty in Nye County, leading producers. The two leading Nevada producers in 2006, Vanderbilt Minerals Co. processes small amounts of clay PABCO Gypsum and USG Corp., utilized most of the gypsum stockpiled from several deposits in Arizona, California, and mined in Nevada in the production of wallboard at plants Nevada. In 2006, Vanderbilt shipped clay from the Blanco adjacent to their mining operations. Processing of gypsum ore at Mine in Esmeralda County, the Buff and Satin Mines in PABCO’s Clark County plant yielded a product that was about

30.6 U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY MINERALS YEARBOOK—2006 70% by weight gypsum. The ore was recovered from a nearly Magnesium.—Magnesium minerals, brucite, and magnesite fl at-lying late Miocene gypsite blanket atop a 13-km2 mesa. have been mined at Gabbs Valley in Nye County since 1935. Results of drilling have indicated that the gypsum ore is at least In the 1940s, the minerals were processed in Henderson, NV, 36-m thick in the area of current mining. USG mined gypsum to produce magnesium metal. From the 1950s to the 1980s, in western Pershing County and processed it into wallboard and mining and processing was carried out by Basic Industries, a plaster at its plant in Empire, Washoe County. The gypsum is major producer of refractory magnesia. Premier Chemicals of Triassic or Jurassic age and forms several masses in a 5-km2 LLC, Cleveland, OH, currently owns the Gabbs operation. area. The largest mass, the Selenite orebody, contains 85% to During the 1990s, the availability of inexpensive foreign 95% gypsum. refractory magnesia caused production at Gabbs to be shifted to The Art Wilson Company, Carson City, shipped anhydrite and light-burned (caustic) magnesia that was marketed mainly for gypsum from the Adams Mine in Lyon County, and the D.L. wastewater treatment and agricultural uses. Although production Denman Construction Company mined gypsum at the Pioneer of magnesia at Gabbs was well below the peak reached in Mine about 16 km east of Las Vegas. Material from these 1981, magnesia shipments from the Gabbs operation increased relatively small operations was used in agricultural and cement steadily between 1996 and 2005. Production in 2006 was applications. The Adams deposit is a folded body associated somewhat lower than in 2005. with limestone in Triassic metavolcanic rocks. The Pioneer The Gabbs operation currently is the only location in the Mine exploits the same late Miocene gypsite deposit as the United States where magnesite is mined. Brucite, which is PABCO operation about 8 km to the north. shipped in relatively small amounts from the Gabbs operation, Lime, Limestone, and Dolomite.—The Pilot Peak high- is also mined in Texas. Slightly less than 50% of domestic calcium lime operation of Graymont Western US, Inc. (formerly magnesia production is derived from brucite and magnesite. The Continental Lime, Inc.) 16 km northwest of Wendover, Elko remainder comes from seawater and natural brines. Brucite and County was Nevada’s leading lime producer, mainly marketing Magnesite at Gabbs occur as complex replacement bodies in to gold-mining operations for use in cyanide-solution pH Triassic dolomite in a large area. The resource is thought to be control. The Pilot Peak plant has three kilns with a combined suffi cient for more than 50 years of production at present mining capacity of more than 635,000 t/yr of quicklime, and a hydrated rates. lime plant capable of producing about 320 metric tons per day Perlite.—Although Nevada has signifi cant perlite resources (t/d). and several deposits of perlite that have been mined extensively, Chemical Lime Co. produced lime at Apex, about 32 km the State now produces only minor amounts of perlite. Current northeast of Las Vegas. The operation manufactured high- perlite production in Nevada is restricted to relatively small- calcium quicklime used in metallurgical processing, paper scale mining of two deposits for niche markets that produce less manufacturing, and environmental markets. The company also than 1% of the domestic total. produced dolomitic lime and hydrated high calcium lime at Wilkin Mining and Trucking Inc. mines perlite from the Apex, mainly for construction uses. Chemical Lime’s Henderson Tenacity Perlite Mine about 40 km west of Caliente in Lincoln plant processed Type S hydrated dolomitic lime for building and County. The company has been mining perlite in the area for home construction. more than 25 years. In 2006, Wilkin also operated a small In addition to lime, Graymont Western and Chemical popping plant in Caliente where expanded perlite was produced Lime also shipped crushed limestone. The limestone used by for horticultural purposes. Chemical Lime and Graymont Western was recovered from two EP Minerals LLC produced expanded perlite at its Colado sites that are nearly at opposite ends of the State. However, the diatomite plant in Pershing County. The perlite was marketed high-calcium limestone mined at both sites is from the same as a fi lter aid. Plant capacity was about 7,300 t/yr. The crude Devonian limestone unit. perlite was obtained from the Popcorn Mine about 24 km south Min-Ad, Inc. and Nutritional Additives Corp. near of Fallon in Churchill County. Winnemucca produced dolomite for use in agricultural and Potassium Alum.—A small amount of potassium alum nutritional products. The Min-Ad operation (a subsidiary (kalinite) was shipped in 2006 from a deposit in Esmeralda of Inter-Rock Minerals Inc., Toronto, Ontario, Canada) has County about 16 km north of Silver Peak. The kalinite, which increased production by about 70% during the past 10 years. occurs with sulfur as veins and stringers in rhyolitic rock, was The dolomite is distributed mainly to locations in midwestern being marketed for horticultural use. United States, but also is distributed as far as New York State Salt.—The Huck Salt Company produced salt for use mainly and Alberta, Canada, for use in beef and dairy feed. in the deicing of roads. Production in 2006 was down nearly Lithium.—Nevada was the only State with domestic 50% compared with that of 2005, consistent with the production production of lithium raw materials. Chemetall Foote Co. (a level being weather dependent. The salt was mined from a playa subsidiary of Chemetall GmbH) produced lithium carbonate, on Fourmile Flat about 40 km southeast of Fallon in Churchill lithium hydroxide monohydrate, and lithium hydroxide County. Salt has been harvested almost continuously since the anhydrite at its Silver Peak facility in Esmeralda County. 1860s from this site, when it was hauled to the mills to process The lithium chemicals were produced by solar evaporation/ Comstock silver and gold ore. preconcentration and subsequent refi ning techniques from brine Silica.—In 2006, Nevada’s major silica producer, Simplot that was pumped from beneath Clayton Valley playa. Lithium Silica Products, Overton, Clark County, shipped a quantity imports have increased about 75% since 2001, principally of of silica sand equivalent to that shipped in 2004 and 2005. growth in the lithium-based rechargeable battery market. NEVADA—2006 30.7 The sand was mined from a large open pit in the relatively the Reno-Sparks-Carson City area in 2006, about 15% more friable Cretaceous Baseline Sandstone, washed in the pit, and than in 2005. Companies in the area that produced more than transported via an 8-km slurry pipeline to a plant where it was 0.9 Mt of aggregate were Granite Construction Co., Martin screened and bagged. Simplot planned to upgrade its processing Marietta Materials Inc., and RMC Nevada. Granite Construction facilities in the near future. The upgrade was expected to produced aggregate from several pits in the area, but the bulk of increase production of silica products to nearly 770,000 t/yr. the company’s production was of crushed andesite and crushed American Cement and Aggregate produced silica sand from granitic rock from its Lockwood and Hidden Canyon pits, the Ordovician Eureka Quartzite about 5 km southeast of respectively. RMC Nevada owns the former All-Lite Aggregate Mercury in Nye County. A plan of operations submitted to the crushed rhyolite operations and Paiute Pit Aggregates sand and BLM in 2001 called for annual production of nearly 73,000 t. gravel operations. Most of Martin Marietta’s production came

The product, which contains about 98% silicon dioxide (SiO2), from the Rocky Ridge Quarry north of Sparks, which produced is used mainly as construction sand. The company also holds crushed granitic rock. A & K Earthmovers also produced more claims that cover an abandoned quarry in Eureka Quartzite that than 0.9 Mt, but much of this was fi ll material. Rilite Aggregate contains more than 99% SiO2 in Clark County. Co. and Frehner Construction Co., Inc. were also important Sand and Gravel and Stone, Crushed.—Production from producers. Crushed rock accounted for about 60% of the sand and gravel deposits accounted for about 65% of aggregate aggregate used in 2006 in the Reno-Sparks-Carson City area. production statewide, with crushed stone and lightweight Lightweight aggregate, an important component of crushed aggregate making up the balance. Construction aggregate rock production in the area, was produced by Basalite Concrete produced in the Las Vegas area in 2006, estimated to be about Products LLC, Rilite Aggregate Co., and RMC Nevada. 30 Mt, was slightly lower than in 2005. Sand and gravel More than 4.5 Mt of aggregate was likely produced outside operations accounted for about 75% of the aggregate used in of the major metropolitan areas in Nevada in 2006. Operators in the Las Vegas metropolitan area in 2006. As in past years, the Nye County together produced more than 1.8 Mt of aggregate in Lone Mountain area in northwest Las Vegas remained the most 2006, mostly in the Pahrump area. Elko and Lyon Counties each important source of sand and gravel aggregate, accounting for produced more than 270,000 t. Lincoln and Churchill Counties more than 9 Mt in 2006. Signifi cant production also came from each produced more than 180,000 t, and Lander and Douglas sand and gravel pits and stone quarries south and northeast of Counties each produced more than 90,000 t. Other rural Nevada Las Vegas, and in the El Dorado Valley area west of Boulder counties are thought to have produced less than 90,000 t of City. Sand and gravel from portable crushers at construction aggregate each in 2006. sites were also important producers of base aggregate in Las Stone, Dimension.—Mt. Moriah Stone Quarries, LLC mined Vegas. Companies in the Las Vegas area that produced more fl aggy quartzite of several colors from the Cambrian Prospect than 0.9 Mt of aggregate in 2006 were American Sand and Mountain Quartzite at a quarry about 24 km north of Baker in Gravel, CTC Crushing, Frehner Construction Company, Inc., White Pine County. This material, which naturally splits into Las Vegas Paving Corp., Nevada Ready Mix Corp., Rinker large slabs, is used for ashlar (uncut facing stone), fl agstone, and Materials, and Wells Cargo. Companies with production other types of uncut building stone. in excess of 450,000 t/yr were Granite Construction and Las Vegas Rock produced ashlar, boulders, crushed Hollywood Sand and Gravel. Las Vegas Paving, a major landscape rock, and fl agstone from its Rainbow Quarries near producer of asphalt concrete, produced sand and gravel from Goodsprings, about 32 km southwest of Las Vegas. The stone its Blue Diamond and Lone Mountain pits. The company also was mined from the Jurassic Aztec Sandstone. produced crushed stone from the Apex landfi ll about 16 km Zeolites.—Nevada contains large known resources of zeolite. northeast of Las Vegas. Nevada Ready Mix (a subsidiary of However, zeolite production has been small and no zeolite was the Mitsubishi Corporation) mined most of its aggregate from mined in 2006. Ash Meadows Zeolite LLC (a subsidiary of a complex of pits in alluvium in the Lone Mountain area, with Badger Mining Corp.) ships 1,000 to 5,000 t/yr of clinoptilolite minor production coming from quarries in adjacent bedrock. used in water fi ltration, odor control, and nuclear cleanup from Frehner Inc. (a subsidiary of the Swiss company Holcim) a plant in Amargosa Valley in Nye County. The clinoptilolite mined and crushed limestone from its Sloan property a few is mined from a small open pit in California in a large area of miles south of Las Vegas. Rinker Materials (a subsidiary of zeolite deposits that extends into Nevada. the Australian-based CSR Group) produced crushed granite from the El Dorado pit near Railroad Pass. Community pits Metals and other aggregate mining facilities administered by the BLM and operated by several companies contributed about 7.3 Mt As reported by the NBMG and the NDM, Nevada produced to the Las Vegas area total in 2006. American Sand and Gravel 194,000 kg (6.32 million troy ounces) of gold, 264,000 kg (8.49 and Hollywood Sand and Gravel produced aggregate from million troy ounces) of silver, 58,000 t (127.5 million pounds) of community pits. The Southern Nevada Lightweight operation copper, and 259 t (570,500 pounds) of molybdenum in 2006. near Jean produced aggregate for lightweight concrete block and Gold.—Gold production was down 16,700 kg (537,000 sand for use in stucco. Lightweight aggregate was also shipped troy ounces) compared with that of 2005, marking the sixth to the Las Vegas market by the Cind-R-Lite Block Company consecutive year of declining production. Twenty-four mines from a cinder operation near Amargosa Valley in Nye County. in Nevada reported gold production in 2006. Fifty-one percent More than 8 Mt of construction aggregate was produced in of production came from mines on the Carlin trend. A 55%

30.8 U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY MINERALS YEARBOOK—2006 decrease in production from the Cortez Mine (60% Barrick, Golden Phoenix Minerals Inc., Vicksburg District, Humboldt 40% Kennecott) contributed signifi cantly to the decline in County began production at its small underground Ashdown Nevada’s gold productions in 2006. The decrease in production molybdenum mine and shipped its fi rst concentrate in December at Cortez was attributed to the mining of some lower grade ore 2006. The mineralization is hosted in a narrow quartz vein, the from the remaining reserves at the Pipeline openpit complex. Sylvia vein, characterized by bands of high-grade molybdenite. Barrick Gold Corp., with production from its Betze Post, Masses of nearly pure molybdenite, assaying up to 46% Meikle, Cortez (60% share), and Turquoise Ridge Mines (75% molybdenum were encountered in the Ashburn deposit. Diluted share), plus its 50% share of the Round Mountain Mine’s head grades delivered to the mill for processing averaged production, and 33% share of the Marigold Mine’s production, between 1.75% and 4.75% molybdenum. produced a total of 92,900 kg ( 2.99 million troy ounces) of Copper production was mainly from Quadra Mining Inc.’s gold, the highest in Nevada. Barrick was able to maintain its Robinson Mine. Overall production was increased in 2006 with top spot by completing its acquisition of Placer Dome Inc. the opening of Newmont’s Phoenix Mine, which produced 2,800 (including its Cortez, Bald Mountain, and Turquoise Ridge t of copper. Newmont expected Phoenix to produce 6,800 to Mines) in 2006. For the seventh consecutive year, Barrick’s 11,300 t/yr of copper when in full operation. Betze Post Mine was Nevada’s most productive gold mine, with an output of 44,500 kg (1.43 million troy ounces). Barrick’s Mine Reclamation Award Meikle Mine, the largest underground mine in Nevada, produced 14,930 kg (0.48 million troy ounces). Newmont Mining Corp. was presented an award in the Newmont Mining Corp. reported production of 72,470 category of Wildlife Habitat Enhancement for its work at kg (2.33 million troy ounces) of gold, the second highest in the Bootstrap Mine in Elko County near Carlin. Newmont’s Nevada, from its Carlin Trend Mine, and from the Twin Creeks, unique design revegetation strategy served to create a very Lone Tree, Mule Canyon, Midas, and Phoenix Mines (plus its wildlife friendly site. Newmont’s use of variable topography 25% share of the Turquoise Ridge joint venture with Barrick). and native seed mixes allowed wildlife to rapidly repopulate Newmont’s Carlin Trend Mine produced 40,750 kg (1.31 the mine area. The waste rock disposal areas at the Bootstrap million troy ounces). Mine were considered to be an excellent example of proactive Royal Standard Minerals Inc. completed the permitting concurrent mine reclamation and successful post-mining land process and began preliminary mining tests at its Gold Wedge use for enhanced wildlife habitat. The Nevada Excellence in underground deposit in the Manhattan District, Nye County. Ore Mine Reclamation Award is given cooperatively by the Nevada is hosted predominantly by the Ordovician Zanzibar Limestone. Division of Minerals, Nevada Division of Environmental The fi rst gold production was expected in 2007 with a planned Protection, Nevada Division of Wildlife, U.S. Bureau of Land throughput of 450 to 635 t/d. Management, and the U.S. Forest Service. There have been 51 Silver.—Nevada’s production of silver in 2006 accounted projects and 6 individuals recognized since the awards program for 24% of the U.S. total and 1.4% of the world total. Much began in 1990 (Dreisner and Coyner, 2006). of Nevada’s silver production, which totaled 264,000 kg (8.49 million troy ounces), was a coproduct or byproduct of Government Programs gold mining. Coeur d’Alene Mines Corp.’s Rochester Mine maintained its place as the leading silver mine in Nevada with Through a survey conducted early in 2007, the Nevada production of 159,000 kg (5.11 million troy ounces). The Division of Minerals collected data for NBMG Special Rochester Mine was considered a primary silver operation in Publication P-18, Major Mines of Nevada 2006. This that the silver production value from the mine exceeded that publication includes, in handbook form, location maps, names of gold, based upon the average price of gold and silver at a and telephone numbers of operators, numbers of employees, and ratio of 52:1 in 2006. The quantity of silver produced from the nonproprietary production fi gures for most mines in Nevada. Rochester Mine in 2006 was 71 times greater than that of gold. The publication also contains a section on economic impacts Mining at Rochester was expected to end in 2007, although of the industry. The full contents of this 28-page publication leaching recovery was to continue until 2011. are available, free of charge, at www.nbmg.unr.edu. Additional As in 2005, Newmont’s Midas Mine was the second leading information about the Nevada mineral industry and the overall silver producer at 52,700 kg (1.70 million troy ounces). The United States gold industry, including the contents of selected Round Mountain Mine followed in third place, producing publications, also are available at this Web site, as well as the 20,000 kg (0.64 million troy ounces) of silver. Nevada Division of Minerals Web site (http:// Other Metals.—In 2006 Idaho General Mines, Inc. acquired minerals.state.nv.us/). In 2006, the NBMG also released Map its second large molybdenum project, the Hall-Tonopah 149, Gold and Silver Resources in Nevada, which illustrates the project. The Hall-Tonopah property includes the former Hall locations of 943 deposits and is supported by a database with molybdenum deposit, which was operated as an open pit mine coordinates and references (Davis and others, 2006). between 1982 and 1991 by the Anaconda Company and Cyprus Minerals, Inc. Extensive diamond drilling during the Anaconda References Cited era resulted in fi nding and delineating a deposit estimated to contain 180 Mt at a grade of 0.091% molybdenum. During this AuEx Ventures, 2006, Trinity Silver drilling assay results: AuEx Ventures period, approximately 45 Mt was mined and processed at an news release, August 3, 2 p. (Accessed January 12, 2009, at http://www. auexventures.com/s/NewsReleases.asp?ReportID=146243&_Type=News- approximate grade of 0.11% molybdenum. Releases&_Title=Trinity-Silver-Drilling-Assay-Results). NEVADA—2006 30.9 Brooks, W.E., and Matos, G.R., 2005, Mercury recycling in the United States release, November 6, 5 p. (Accessed January 14, 2009, at http:// in 2000: U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1196-U, (Accessed February 13, www.goldcanyon.ca/news/press-releases.html?year=2006). 2008, at http://pubs.usgs.gov/circ/c1196u/Circ_1196_U.pdf). Idaho General Mines, Inc., 2007, Idaho General Mines, Inc. announces Castor, S.B., 2007, Industrial minerals, in The Nevada mineral industry 2006: completion of purchase of Hall-Tonopah molybdenum & copper royalty: Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology Special Publication MI-2006, p. 63-69. Idaho General Mines, Inc. news release, February 1, 3 p. (Accessed January Davis, D.A., Tingley, J.V., and Muntean, J.L., 2006, Gold and silver resources 13, 2009, at http://fi ndarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_2007_Feb_1/ in Nevada—Map 149: Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology. (Accessed ai_n27133797). December 11, 2008, at http://www.nbmg.unr.edu/dox/m149.pdf). Klondex Mines Ltd., 2006, Indicated mineral resource estimate of 1,045,738 oz Driesner, Doug, and Coyner, A.R., 2006, Nevada excellence in mine reclamation of gold for Fire Creek property, Nevada: Klondex Mines Ltd. news release, award winner named: Nevada Commission on Mineral Resources, Division of September 5, 1 p. (Accessed January 8, 2009, at Minerals press release, Reno, NV, September 9, 1 p. (Accessed December 11, http://www.klondexmines.com/s/News.asp?ReportID=149391&_ 2008, at http://minerals.state.nv.us/news_pr.htm). Type=News&_Title=Indicated-Mineral-Resource-Estimate-of-1045738-Oz- Driesner, Doug, and Coyner, A.R., 2007a, Major mines of Nevada—Mineral of-Gold-for-Fire-Creek-Pr...). industries in Nevada’s economy: Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology Midway Gold Corp., 2006, Midway cuts 27.4 metres grading 6.82 g/t gold in Special Publication P-18. (Accessed December 4, 2008, at http:// porphyry zone at Spring Valley, Nevada: Midway Gold Corp. news release, www.nbmg.unr.edu/dox/mm/mm06.pdf). January 20, 2 p. (Accessed January 8, 2009, at Driesner, Doug, and Coyner, A.R., 2007b, Nevada exploration survey 2006: http://www.midwaygold.com/s/NewsReleases.asp?ReportID=196501). Nevada Commission on Mineral Resources, Division of Minerals. (Accessed Muntean, J.L., 2007, Metals, in The Nevada mineral industry 2006: Nevada January 12, 2009, at http://www.northernnevadapartnership.com/reports/ Bureau of Mines and Geology Special Publication MI-2006, p. 14–37. ExplorationSurvey0607.pdf). Price, J.G., and Meeuwig, R.O., 2007, Overview, in The Nevada mineral Fury Explorations Ltd., 2006, Fury Explorations Ltd.—Drilling at Taylor industry 2006: Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology Special Publication intercepts high grade zone; 233 feet averaging 135.6 g/t Ag and 0.21 g/t Au: MI-2006, p. 3–13. Fury Explorations Ltd., December, 2 p. (Accessed January 12, 2009, at http:// Quadra Mining Ltd., 2006, Quadra Mining Ltd. announces fi rst quarter 2006 fi ndarticles.com/p/articles/mi_pwwi/is_/ai_n16886752). production results at the Robinson Mine: Quadra Mining Ltd. news release, General Metals Corporation, 2006, General Metals Corporation announces April 13, 2 p. (Accessed January 13, 2009, at results of drilling program and proposes plan for further development at http://www.quadramining.com/s/News.asp?ReportID=134728&_Type=News- Independence Mine: General Metals Corporation press release, March 13, Releases&_Title=Quadra-Mining-Ltd.-Announces-1St-Quarter-2006- 2 p. (Accessed January 14, 2009, at http://www.generalmetalscorporation. Production-Results-At-The-Rob...). com/s/PressReleases.asp?ReportID=141862&_Type=Press-Releases&_ Silver Quest Resources Ltd., 2007, New silver discovery: Silver Quest Title=General-Metals-Corporation-Announces-Results-of-Drilling-Program- Resources Ltd. news release, January 17, 2 p. (Accessed January 8, 2009, at and-Propos..). http://www.silverquest.ca/s/NewsReleases.asp?ReportID=166897&_ Gold Canyon Resources, Inc., 2006, Gold Canyon announces high grade drill Type=News-Releases&_Title=New-Silver-Discovery-Corcoran-Canyon-NV). results from Cordero gallium project: Gold Canyon Resources, Inc. news

TABLE 1 NONFUEL RAW MINERAL PRODUCTION IN NEVADA1, 2

(Thousand metric tons and thousand dollars unless otherwise specified)

2004 2005 2006 Mineral Quantity Value Quantity Value Quantity Value Clays: Bentonite WW 7WWW Fuller's earth W W 25 W W W Gold3 kilograms 216,000 2,850,000 212,000 3,030,000 206,000 4,010,000 Sand and gravel, construction 43,100 197,000 52,300 230,000 45,500 224,000 Silver3 kilograms 302,000 65,000 276,000 65,200 245,000 91,300 Stone, crushed 9,760 72,800 9,460 r 67,900 r 10,200 87,500 Combined values of barite, brucite (2004), cement (portland), clays (kaolin), copper, diatomite, gemstones (natural), gypsum (crude), lime, lithium carbonate, magnesite, molybdenum concentrates, perlite (crude), pumice and pumicite (2006), salt, sand and gravel (industrial), zeolites, and values indicated by the symbol W XX 286,000 XX 488,000 XX 724,000 Total XX 3,470,000 XX 3,890,000 r XX 5,140,000 rRevised. W Withheld to avoid disclosing company proprietary data. Withheld values included in "Combined values" data. XX Not applicable. 1Production as measured by mine shipments, sales, or marketable production (including consumption by producers). 2Data are rounded to no more than three significant digits; may not add to totals shown. 3Recoverable content of ores, etc.

30.10 U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY MINERALS YEARBOOK—2006 TABLE 2 NEVADA: CRUSHED STONE SOLD OR USED, BY KIND1

2005 2006 Number Quantity Number Quantity of (thousand Value of (thousand Value Kind quarries metric tons) (thousands) quarries metric tons) (thousands) Limestone 6 4,710 $26,700 6 5,220 $36,200 Dolomite 3 W W 3 W W Granite 5 r 3,240 23,400 5 3,410 28,000 Volcanic cinder and scoria 2 W W 2 W W Miscellaneous stone 4 r 1,080 r 6,790 r 4 1,110 9,880 Total XX 9,460 r 67,900 r XX 10,200 87,500 rRevised. W Withheld to avoid disclosing company proprietary data; included in "Total." XX Not applicable. 1Data are rounded to no more than three significant digits; may not add to totals shown.

TABLE 3 NEVADA: CRUSHED STONE SOLD OR USED BY PRODUCERS IN 2006, BY USE1

(Thousand metric tons and thousand dollars)

Use Quantity Value Construction: Coarse aggregate, graded, concrete aggregate (coarse) W W Coarse and fine aggregates, other W W Agricultural, other W W Chemical and metallurgical: Cement manufacture W W Lime manufacture W W Sulfur oxide removal W W Special, mine dusting or acid water treatment W W Unspecified2 Reported 2,810 20,200 Estimated 4,800 44,000 Total 7,630 63,700 Grand total 10,200 87,500 W Withheld to avoid disclosing company proprietary data; included in "Grand total." 1Data are rounded to no more than three significant digits; may not add to totals shown. 2Reported and estimated production without a breakdown by end use.

NEVADA—2006 30.11 TABLE 4 NEVADA: CRUSHED STONE SOLD OR USED BY PRODUCERS IN 2006, BY USE AND BY DISTRICT1

(Thousand metric tons and thousand dollars)

District 1 District 2 Use Quantity Value Quantity Value Construction: Coarse aggregate graded2 -- -- W W Coarse and fine aggregates3 W W -- -- Agricultural4 W W -- -- Chemical and metallurgical5 WW W W Special6 -- -- W W Unspecified:7 Reported 2,070 14,900 739 5,300 Estimated 880 6,500 3,900 37,000 Total 3,880 38,500 6,290 49,000 W Withheld to avoid disclosing company proprietary data; included in "Total." -- Zero. 1Data are rounded to no more than three significant digits; may not add to totals shown. 2Includes concrete aggregate (coarse). 3Includes other coarse and fine aggregates. 4Includes other agricultural uses. 5Includes cement and lime manufacture and sulfur oxide removal. 6Includes mine dusting or acid water treatment. 7Reported and estimated production without a break down by end use.

TABLE 5 NEVADA: CONSTRUCTION SAND AND GRAVEL SOLD OR USED IN 2006, BY MAJOR USE CATEGORY1

Quantity (thousand Value Unit Use metric tons) (thousands) value Concrete aggregate (including concrete sand) 1,820 $14,700 $8.06 Plaster and gunite sands 108 992 9.19 Concrete products (blocks, bricks, pipe, decorative, etc.) 125 1,120 8.98 Asphaltic concrete aggregates and other bituminous mixtures 623 5,980 9.59 Road base and coverings2 2,920 14,700 5.04 Fill 1,170 5,600 4.81 Snow and ice control 31 208 6.71 Other miscellaneous uses3 617 2,910 4.71 Unspecified:4 Reported 13,100 36,600 2.80 Estimated 25,100 142,000 5.65 Total or average 45,500 224,000 4.93 1Data are rounded to no more than three significant digits; may not add to totals shown. 2Includes road and other stabilization (lime). 3Includes filtration and railroad ballast. 4Reported and estimated production without a breakdown by end use.

30.12 U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY MINERALS YEARBOOK—2006 TABLE 6 NEVADA: CONSTRUCTION SAND AND GRAVEL SOLD OR USED IN 2006, BY USE AND DISTRICT1

(Thousand metric tons and thousand dollars)

District 1 District 2 Unspecified districts Use Quantity Value Quantity Value Quantity Value Concrete aggregates and concrete products2 496 4,080 1,430 11,600 125 1,100 Asphaltic concrete aggregates and road base materials3 1,290 9,500 2,260 11,200 -- -- Fill 921 4,670 245 939 -- -- Other miscellaneous uses4 600 2,650 49 467 -- -- Unspecified:5 Reported 3,340 15,600 134 2,500 9,570 18,500 Estimated 4,940 28,000 20,100 114,000 -- -- Total 11,600 64,500 24,200 140,000 9,700 19,600 -- Zero. 1Data are rounded to no more than three significant digits; may not add to totals shown. 2Includes plaster and gunite sands. 3Includes road and other stabilization (lime). 4Includes filtration, railroad ballast, and snow and ice control. 5Reported and estimated production without a breakdown by end use.

NEVADA—2006 30.13